Is my meat off?

[tardisjumper]

I have just opened yet another load of meat from the supermarket and got the fishiest stench from hell. I tried to overcome my probs and have started cooking it. Now the fishy smell has spread.

It is a tray of chickn thighs and it kind of has a mellow sulpherous fishy smell. To put it this way the pollack we had last night a day over its use by didn't smell fishy at all in comparison. Thing is the use by date is Feb 3.

This keeps on happening but I can't tell if I am being paranoid? I have a thing about 'off' food after having a granny who frequently gave us food poisening by ignoring use by dates.

How do I know if it is off or just the small of it being in a tray/me being paranoid.

NB: DP says he doesn't know what off meat smells like so refuses to give his opinion. grrrr.

Is your fridge cold enough?
Can't say whether you should eat this tonight or not, but assuming you are still alive... if it happens again, wash in salt water, choose a hot spicy dish to cook rather than plain roast - but if your nose says NO, bin it. To prevent it happening, unwrap meat when you get it home - those plastic trays are the worst. I know it seems wrong but better to leave in fridge uncovered - that's what butchers do after all.

I'd bin it.

Chicken should not smell of fish.

I have just turned the fridge down but stuff gets frozen at the back already. We are binning it!

Cooking it has released an awful smell around the room. Belugh.

That's exactly what happens when you cook chicken that's off - the stink spreads...I once had this experience too and I remember the awful smell you describe. At least now you definitely know you're not throwing away good food!

For future reference, chicken also has a slimy sticky feel to it when it's on the turn.

Which supermarket is it that keeps sending you spoiled meat?

I wouldn't bin it. I'd take it back and get my money back as long as it's not too far out of the way.
I bought some chicken from Sainsbury's that smelt off, had little white dots on it also.
Took it back before cooking and they made a big fuss about checking the what was on the shop floor etc. Not sure whether they did but I got my cash back.
Not worth the risk to eat off meat. I've also had food poisoning and it is horrible, isn't it?

It has been Sainsburys 99% of the time, but this lot was from Ocado. However the order from them last week was without a shadow of a doubt the worst I have ever received from any supermarket. They had a melt down at the local warehouse due to breakdown at HQ apparently.